Chess prodigy Hans Niemann (pictured below, right) has just sued grandmaster Magnus Carlsen in Missouri for defamation. Here is a copy of the 44-page complaint, and here is the first paragraph: “Niemann is a 19-year-old, self-taught chess prodigy. He brings this action to recover from the devastating damages that [Magnus Carlsen and others] have inflicted upon his reputation, career, and life by egregiously defaming him and unlawfully colluding to blacklist him from the profession to which he has dedicated his life.” Crazy, right? (Hat tip: Eugene Volokh.)

My take: Truth is a complete defense to a claim of defamation, so we might find out once and for all whether Niemann was cheating when he defeated Magnus in chess earlier this year.